August 25, 2009

Yep, that’s my motto in these early baby days! “Just do the next thing…”

I’ve found myself very grateful for all of our efforts over the last few months to organize home life and ministry life so that we could take a break. To prepare homeschool plans and think through our fall schedule way ahead of time. It’s been completely worth it as all of August has been spent staring at little baby toes, kissing chubby cheeks, and taking hundreds of pictures. Literally. I love digital cameras.

The bliss of an unscheduled month has made postpartum recovery a smooth transition. I have rested, enjoyed other’s cooking, allowed extended family to help with cleaning and our older children, rested more and only left the house maybe three times? Wonderful, I tell you….wonderful.

Of course, that’s not always going to be my reality. The month of ‘nothing’ is coming to a rapid close. But I feel ready :: it’s time for the structure of ‘school days’ and the rhythmic routine of our weekly activities. And it will all start to ramp up next week and be full-blown after Labor Day. I’ll have to remind myself of the ‘one step at a time’ motto often I’m sure.

Until then, there’s a few more days of this month yet to enjoy and soak up :: to savor in the fullest. In fact, let me get to that right now….

The 30 day challenge continues, I haven’t missed a day and am loving the concoctions that we dream up {I’ve hooked two kiddos onto this!}. Mainly my smoothies are made of bananas, pineapple, a peach, apple or pear, water and lots of romaine. This week I’m using baby spinach and also added ground flaxseeds—so far I haven’t felt the need to add any sweetener such as Stevia or agave since the fruit is enough. Oh, to be able to eat fruit again…Yum!

August 17, 2009

I am sooo very excited about a new health promotion that I’m participating in for the next 30 days! The green smoothie challenge (click picture above for the link) is a call to add to and also eliminate from your diet. The basic outline is from today until September 17th to ::

drink at least 16 oz. of a green smoothie everyday (a mix of fruits and a green leafy veggie such as spinach, romaine, swiss chard, etc)

add a green salad to lunch or dinner daily

stop drinking all soda (not a problem, I don’t drink it anyway)

stop eating white sugar (having gestational diabetes the last 10 wks of pregnancy gives me a head start on this habit)

do some sort of activity daily (exercise, walk around the block, etc. I’ll take this very slowly since it’s only been two weeks postpartum, rest is more important right now)

Paying closer attention to what I ate over the end of the pregnancy really had me thinking about new habits I’ve adopted and would like to keep as part of an ongoing need to care for myself. I’ve visited Happy Foody before, but hadn’t been to the site in quite some time and wanted to look up smoothie ideas & recipes. Imagine my surprise last week when I saw that the ‘green challenge’ started today! How perfect.

So for only the second time in two weeks, I got in the car, left the house…and loaded up on some fresh fruits and salad fixings for the week. My excitement is contagious to at least two other family members who joined me today for my first smoothie of fresh pineapple, blueberries, kiwi, an orange, and romaine lettuce :: it was delicious and really just tasted like pineapple. These kids love smoothies!

Taking care of myself, or more specifically my overall health, is part of a bigger picture of some thoughts that have been tumbling through my mind this summer :: hope to write more about that soon.

August 12, 2009

Who am I to be so blessed, to have been trusted with so much from Your hand? You, only You, could have showered me with more than silver or gold could buy, more than I could have asked for or even known I needed. How is it Lord?

For it’s not by my merit or some great deed I’ve accomplished that these gifts from Your bounty are deserved.

No, I do not deserve anything :: but You have given everything.

May I remember this always…any talent, whatever ability, all grace & mercy, each and every good gift :: it’s from You and belongs to You.

I am simply a steward attempting faithfulness in all of this—lead me on Faithful One. Lead me on.

August 7, 2009

Oh my, we are most definitely in the bliss & throes of baby land around these parts—and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m currently typing while maneuvering little Jeremiah and a nursing pillow. Seems like I distinctly remember being better at this with the other children. Oh, well.

This little guy is a blessing to us all and so far quite a content babe. He has handled with ease the poking & prodding of his siblings, endless kisses to his forehead, and the level of noise here in our home. What a trooper!

And I’m handling with not as much ease, but working on it, the numerous questions from little minds. I forget that to them, everything is new and interesting…so patience is required! “Why is he crying? Maybe he wants me to hold him? Why does he sleep so much!? I think he needs a stuffed animal. Maybe he wants some juice? It’s MY turn to hold him!” There’s nothing like sibling concern. This little boy is truly loved.

I’m taking it all in and tucking away memories in my heart and mind. Precious days, these are.